High-frequency electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises an insulative shell having a floor; a first plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein the first plurality of contacts are disposed in a plurality of columns; a second plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein the second plurality of contacts are interspersed with the first plurality of contacts within the plurality of columns; and a conductive member adjacent the floor. The conductive member comprises a first plurality of openings, wherein the first plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the first plurality of openings; a second plurality of openings, wherein the second plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the second plurality of openings; and a first plurality of tabs, extending into openings in the insulative shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector comprising:
 an insulative shell having a floor; 
 a first plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein the first plurality of contacts are disposed in a plurality of columns; 
 a second plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein the second plurality of contacts are interspersed with the first plurality of contacts within the plurality of columns; and 
 a conductive member adjacent the floor, the conductive member comprising:
 a first plurality of openings, wherein the first plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the first plurality of openings; and 
 a second plurality of openings, wherein the second plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the second plurality of openings, 
 wherein:
 the floor comprises a plurality of surface portions and a recessed portion, recessed relative to the surface portions; 
 the plurality of surface portions extend through the first plurality of openings; and 
 the conductive member is disposed within the recessed portion. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of contacts are disposed in a plurality of pairs; and 
 each of the plurality of pairs extends through a surface portion of the plurality of surface portions. 
 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second plurality of contacts extend through the recessed portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts comprise mating contact portions and contact tails; 
 the floor comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface; 
 the mating contact portions of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts extend from the first surface; 
 the contact tails of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts extend from the second surface; and 
 the recessed portion comprises a recess in the first surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the conductive member further comprises a plurality of tabs; and 
 the plurality of tabs press against the second plurality of contacts. 
 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the second plurality of contacts comprise first surfaces, facing a first direction, and opposing second surfaces; and 
 the plurality of tabs press against the second plurality of contacts at the second surfaces. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second plurality of contacts comprise dimples that are concave in the second surfaces; 
 the plurality of tabs comprise tips; and 
 the tips of the plurality of tabs contact the second surfaces at the dimples. 
 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the tips of the plurality of tabs are rounded such that the tips contact the dimples at at least two points. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the plurality of tabs are compliant beams and exert a spring force against the second surfaces, biasing the conductive member in a second direction normal to the second surfaces; 
 the plurality of surface portions extend through the first plurality of openings such that edges of the conductive member abut the surface portions so as to counter spring forces biasing the conductive member in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The electrical connector of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first surfaces of the second plurality of contacts comprise a selective plating of gold. 
 
     
     
       11. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of contacts comprise differential signal contacts; and 
 the second plurality of contacts comprise ground contacts. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the conductive member comprises a metal sheet with the openings of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings and a plurality of tabs formed therein. 
 
     
     
       13. An electrical connector comprising:
 an insulative shell having a floor, wherein the floor comprises a plurality of surface portions and a recessed portion, recessed relative to the surface portions; 
 a first plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein the first plurality of contacts are disposed in a plurality of columns; 
 a second plurality of contacts extending through the floor, wherein contacts of the second plurality of contacts each comprises a first surface, facing a first direction, and an opposing second surface; 
 a conductive member adjacent the floor, the conductive member comprising:
 a first plurality of openings, wherein the first plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the first plurality of openings; 
 a second plurality of openings, wherein the second plurality of contacts extend through the openings of the second plurality of openings; and 
 a plurality of tabs pressing against respective contacts of the second plurality of contacts at the second surfaces, wherein:
 the plurality of tabs are compliant beams and exert a spring force against the second surfaces, biasing the conductive member in a second direction normal to the second surfaces; and 
 
 
 the plurality of surface portions extend through the first plurality of openings such that edges of the conductive member abut the surface portions so as to counter the spring force biasing the conductive member in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second plurality of contacts are interspersed with the first plurality of contacts within the plurality of columns. 
 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first plurality of contacts are disposed in a plurality of pairs; and 
 each of the plurality of pairs extends through a surface portion of the plurality of surface portions. 
 
     
     
       16. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts comprise mating contact portions and contact tails; 
 the floor comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface; 
 the mating contact portions of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts extend from the first surface; 
 the contact tails of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts extend from the second surface; and 
 the recessed portion comprises a recess in the first surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second plurality of contacts comprise dimples that are concave in the second surfaces; 
 the plurality of tabs comprise tips; and 
 the tips of the plurality of tabs contact the second surfaces at the dimples. 
 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the tips of the plurality of tabs are rounded such that the tips contact the dimples at at least two points. 
 
     
     
       19. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first surfaces of the second plurality of contacts comprise a selective plating of gold. 
 
     
     
       20. The electrical connector of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the conductive member comprises a metal sheet with the openings of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings and the plurality of tabs formed therein.